When the Hamlin Park playground in Skokie was replaced with a new set in 2021, the existing playground pieces were carefully removed and shipped all the way to the small village of Verin Karmiraghbyur, Armenia near the Azerbaijan border. 

This spring, a team of volunteers from Armenian Relief Mission were finally able to rebuild the playground in the town center, with the help of local tradesmen, and with full participation by the village mayor. We are grateful to share our resources with a community half way across the world, and delighted to see the joy of children there playing every day!

For the past several years, as the Skokie Park District has renovated their 1990s playgrounds, much of the old equipment has been recycled, changing the lives of children in places overseas affected by war, poverty, disease and natural disaster.​ Recycled Skokie playground structures have also been donated from Devonshire, Sequoya, Oakton, Emerson, McNally and Winnebago Parks.